[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
[October 22, 2003]
[Pages 1367-1370]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]
[[Page 1367]]
The President's News Conference With President Megawati
Sukarnoputri of Indonesia in Bali,
Indonesia
October 22, 2003
President Megawati. President George Bush and I have just concluded
the meeting. I have met with His Excellency, the President, several
times. Our last meeting was in New York on 23d September, 2003, when we
attended the 58th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
I attach great importance of my personal relation with President
Bush as well as of bilateral relations between Indonesia and the United
States, for both are the large democratic countries in the world and
have great potential of cooperation.
We started our meeting today by conducting bilateral talks. It was
followed by working luncheon attended by a number of members of the
Cabinet. During the talks, we have discussed issues of common concern,
namely: counterterrorism; U.S. support to the democratization and reform
process in Indonesia; military cooperation; U.S. support to the
territorial integrity and national unity of the unitary state of the
Republic of Indonesia; and renunciation to any terrorist movement in the
country; U.S. support to the Indonesian economy through a--[inaudible]--
free process, particularly in the post-IMF program; and cooperation in
the field of education in Indonesia.
In addition, we have exchanged our view of various regional and
international issues, among others, on the latest development in Asia
and the situation in the Middle East, despite the fact that we do not
always share common perspective. But we both continue to hold mutual
understanding that it is to the interest of the two countries to
maintain consultation and cooperation in the pursuit of global peace.
Following bilateral talks and lunch, I accompanied President Bush in
his meeting with some eminent leading figures from Islam, Hindu, and
Christian. I regard this particular meeting as positive development as
the Indonesian religion figures had the opportunity to conduct open and
direct dialog with the leader of the U.S. administration. I am pleased
to note that both sides were in agreement about the importance of
religion tolerance as one of the major pillars of democracy in
Indonesia.
My current meeting with President Bush might be the last before the
two countries carry out general election in 2004. We will continue to
foster cordial and cooperative bilateral relations.
May I now invite President George W. Bush to present his remarks.
Thank you.
President Bush. Thank you, Madam President. Good afternoon. Thank
you very much. Laura and I are honored to be in
Indonesia, the world's third largest democracy and the world's--home to
the world's largest Muslim population. Indonesia is a vital partner, and
Indonesia is a friend of America. We share a commitment to democracy and
tolerance. We stand together against terrorism. I thank President
Megawati for her leadership, for her friendship, and for her hospitality
today.
The success of Indonesia as a pluralistic and democratic state is
essential to the peace and prosperity of this region. Indonesians
profess many faiths and honor many traditions. And like Americans, you
understand that diversity can be a source of strength. Your national
motto, ``Unity in diversity,'' sounds a lot like our own, ``Out of many,
one.'' Americans admire the way Indonesians maintain unity and balance
modern ideas with ancient traditions and deep religious faith.
More than 200 years ago, the Founders of my country recognized and
protected the essential role of religion in society within a democratic
and pluralistic constitution. Your constitution affirms the same
inalienable right of all to worship freely, a gift
[[Page 1368]]
from your founders that enriches the Indonesian nation to this day.
Earlier, just minutes ago, we met with five Indonesian religious
leaders, including leaders of Indonesia's two largest Islamic
organizations, who are sustaining Indonesia's tradition of tolerance and
moderation. Americans hold a deep respect for the Islamic faith, which
is professed by a growing number of my own citizens. We know that Islam
is fully compatible with liberty and tolerance and progress, because we
see the proof in your country and in our own.
Terrorists who claim Islam as their inspiration defile one of the
world's great faiths. Murder has no place in any religious tradition. It
must find no home in Indonesia.
Nearly 3 months ago, America shared Indonesia's grief when a suicide
bomber killed 14 people outside a Jakarta hotel. One year ago, miles
from where we now stand, Indonesia suffered the worst terrorist attack
in its history when over 200 innocent men and women lost their lives.
Today we pay tribute to the victims. We remember the suffering of their
families, and we reaffirm our commitment to win the war on terror.
President Megawati has confronted this evil directly. She was one of
the first leaders to stand with me after September the 11th. Under her
leadership, Indonesia is hunting and finding dangerous killers. America
appreciates Indonesia's strong cooperation in the war on terror. America
believes that freedom and democracy are critical to defeating terror,
because free nations that respect human rights do not breed hatred,
resentment, and the ideologies of murder.
The United States is working for democracy and freedom and economic
progress in Afghanistan and Iraq, to lift millions out of poverty, to
overcome years of brutal repression, to help create a more secure and
safe world. And the United States strongly supports a healthy democracy
in Indonesia, for the sake of your own people and for the sake of peace.
Indonesians have made good progress over the last 5 years in
strengthening democracy and in building the civil institutions that
sustain freedom. Next year, your country will reach an important
milestone when some 150 million Indonesians vote in the nation's first-
ever elected--Presidential election. The United States is working with
Indonesia to support these historic elections. In a short time,
Indonesia has traveled far down the road to full democracy, and
Indonesians should be proud of this accomplishment.
We'll also support Indonesia's efforts to build an education system
that teaches values and discourages extremism. I will propose to our
Congress a 6-year, $157 million program to support basic education in
Indonesia.
The partnership between our two peoples is strong and is growing
stronger. In all that lies ahead, in the defense of freedom, in the
advance of tolerance and democracy, Indonesia will have a firm ally in
the American Government, and you'll have the friendship and the respect
of the American people.
Thank you, Madam President.
President Megawati. Thank you.
President Bush. I think we'll take a couple of questions--is that
not true--from--alternating both sides?
President Megawati. Yes.
President Bush. Would you like to call on somebody first? I'll call
on him. You call on--[laughter]--you sure you want to call on him?
[Laughter] Okay.
U.S. Middle East Policy
Q. Mr. President, some of the religious leaders that you just met
with have said that U.S. foreign policy is biased toward Israel and
against Muslims, making it easy for the terrorists to find recruits. How
do you answer those charges, and how do you deal with that situation?
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President Bush. Our foreign policy is for a--development of a
Palestinian state that lives side by side with Israel in peace. And I'm
the first President to ever articulate such a vision, and I still
believe it is possible. In order to achieve a Palestinian state living
side by side in peace, there needs to be leadership willing to fight off
the terror that is trying to prevent the state from emerging.
U.S. Foreign Policy Goals
Q. I would like to ask question in Indonesian. Because your visit to
Indonesia has been opposed by many people, what is your views? And is
there a possibility of a change in your foreign policy view, which is
seen as imbalanced toward the Islamic world?
President Bush. Well, I strongly believe in peace and freedom. I
think it's important for the world to be as free as possible, and I
strongly believe that free nations are peaceful nations. And my foreign
policy promotes that.
America is also a compassionate nation. We lead the world in helping
feed the hungry and battle disease. I look forward to working with the
President in terms of allowing Indonesians to use our money to help
implement an education system that the Government decides, not America.
No, I'm proud of our foreign policy.
President Megawati. Can I still add something? Because you also
spontaneously accepted the invitation of--my invitation to come to
Indonesia, which proves that he is very open to come to this country of
ours in this spontaneous way.
North Korea/Iran
Q. North Korea is rejecting your offer as laughable and still
insisting on a nonaggression treaty. How do you proceed from here? And
are you confident that Iran is forswearing nuclear weapons?
President Bush. Well, first of all, I want to thank the Foreign
Ministers from Great Britain and
France and Germany and their Governments for taking a very strong
universal message to the Iranians that they should disarm. The Iranians
have--it looks like they are accepting the demands of the free world,
and now it's up to them to prove that they've accepted the demands.
That's a very positive development.
On terms of North Korea, we had a really good visit at APEC about
how best to resolve the North Korean issue peacefully, how best to
convince the North Koreans to disarm, at least abandon their nuclear
ambitions--nuclear weapons ambitions. And we had good progress in
Bangkok. And there's going to be a series of these statements that I
guess are trying to stand up to the five nations that are now united in
convincing North Korea to disarm. And my only reaction is we'll continue
to send the very clear message to the North Koreans. The good news is
that there's other nations besides America now sending the message.
Q. [Inaudible]--is that helping the climate?
President Bush. Launching missiles into the sea? No, of course, not.
Look, the guy, he--we'll determine whether he's
serious or not. He wanted to have dialog; we're having dialog. And he
wanted a security agreement, and we're willing to advance a multiparty
security agreement, assuming that he is willing to abandon his nuclear
weapons designs and programs. And we'll just stay the course.
Wait a minute, you're crowding out the host press. This is
unbelievable. [Laughter] This is unilateralism at its worst. I've never
heard--[laughter]--two and two, Stretch [Richard Keil, Bloomberg News].
Sorry.
President's Visit
Q. Mr. President----
President Bush. Yes.
Q. ----what is the message you would like to convey to the
Indonesian people with this 3-hour visit, the shortest one that you make
among the six-nation visit in this journey?
President Bush. Yes, well, first of all, it's been a--it might not
have been very long,
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but it's been very productive. And my message is, thank you for the
hospitality, and thank you for the wonderful exchange we've had with the
President.
I'm traveling to a lot of countries in a very quick period of time,
and I appreciate the fact that the Indonesian Government was able to
accommodate my desires to come here. And we've got a lot in common. We
both appreciate democracy. We both care about trade so that our nations
can prosper. We both care about educating people so that children have a
chance to succeed in life. We both love freedom, and we both want the
world to be peaceful. And we had a great exchange along those lines.
So my message to the Indonesian people is, thank you very much for
the warm hospitality. And I want to thank the President for the warm
hospitality as well.
Thank you all very much. That's it.
President Megawati. That's it?
President Bush. Unless you want to keep answering questions.
[Laughter] I'll stay here as long as you want to.
President Megawati. No----
President Bush. You want to? Okay. [Laughter]
Note: The President's news conference began at 2:12 p.m. at Bali
International Airport. In his remarks, President Bush referred to
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Jack Straw of
the United Kingdom; Minister of Foreign Affairs Dominique de Villepin of
France; Minister of Foreign Affairs Joschka Fischer of Germany; and
Chairman Kim Chong-il of North Korea. A portion of these remarks could
not be verified because the tape was incomplete.